TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING

BOARD OF NURSING

Initial Agency Notice

Title of Regulation: 18VAC90-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Elena Aponte-Bostwick.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To accept applicants for licensure by endorsement who were licensed in Puerto Rico by an examination comparable to the NCLEX.

Agency Plan for Disposition of Request: In accordance with Virginia law, the petition to amend 18VAC90-20-200 was posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall at www.townhall.virginia.gov. It has also been filed with the Register of Regulations for publication on March 23, 2015. Comment on the petition from interested parties is requested until April 22, 2015. Following receipt of all comments on the petition, the request will be considered by the Board of Nursing at its meeting on May 19, 2015, to decide whether to make any changes to the regulatory language. After that meeting, the board's decision will be published in the Virginia Register and posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall.

Public Comment Deadline: April 22, 2015.

Agency Contact: Elaine J. Yeatts, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4688, or email elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R15-26; Filed February 24, 2015, 2:26 p.m.

BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Agency Decision

Title of Regulation: 18VAC150-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Mark Finkler for the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To define the term "veterinary specialist" and prohibit its use unless the veterinarian is certified by an American Veterinary Medical Association-recognized specialty organization or an organization recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialists or any other board-approved organization.

Agency's Decision: Request granted.

Statement of Reason for Decision: The Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine accepted the petition for rulemaking with publication of a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) to amend 18VAC150-20-140 on unprofessional conduct relating to advertising or representing oneself as a specialist with the required credential.

Agency Contact: Elaine Yeatts, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4688, or email elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R15-16; Filed March 2, 2015, 12:23 p.m.